ePub: the most convenient e-book format
ePub (Electronic Publication) is an open e-book standard in which the text "flows" and adapts to the screen size, font and margins. Most e-readers, reading apps and bookstores support it.
In plain words
A PDF is like a book photographed page by page: on a small screen you have to zoom and scroll back and forth. An ePub is like text on a rubber page: you make the font bigger and the text rearranges itself to fit the screen.
How it works
- An ePub is an archive of HTML pages, styles, images and metadata.
- The reading app formats the text for the screen.
- You can change the font, size, spacing and theme.
- It supports a table of contents, bookmarks, notes and search.
- Books from some stores are protected with DRM.
Where you'll see it
ePub is read by PocketBook, Kobo, Onyx Boox, Kindle (since 2022 via Send to Kindle), Apple Books, Google Play Books and other apps. Most e-bookstores sell books in ePub.
Does it matter when buying
For fiction on an e-reader or phone, ePub is the best choice. If a book is available as both PDF and ePub, I would take the ePub for a small screen. For textbooks with complex layouts, PDF is sometimes better.
Myths
- Myth: ePub is one company's proprietary format. Reality: It is an open standard.
- Myth: Kindle cannot read ePub. Reality: Modern Kindles accept ePub via the Send to Kindle feature.
FAQ
How do I load an ePub onto an e-reader?
Via a USB cable, the cloud, email or the e-reader's app.
How is ePub different from FB2?
FB2 is an older format popular in some Eastern European libraries; ePub is the international standard.
Can I read ePub on my phone?
Yes, in many reading apps.